Can a bigger Europe work for Britain?The Government has taken action to stem the arrival of people from 10 new EU countries, but the situation is more complex than 'benefit tourist' scare stories. Jamie Doward, Sophie Arie and Gaby Hinsliff report.

Judgment day for village crossIn a country where public religious shrines and wayside calvaries are counted in tens of thousands, Dominique Michau's metal cross in the middle of an isolated potato field should have been little more than a local curiosity.

Le Pen tipped to make big comeback in local pollsA double electoral assault by Jean-Marie Le Pen and his daughter, Marine, is threatening to cause an even bigger explosion on the French political scene than his extremist party's shock result in the 2002 presidential elections.

Italians worry as their PM avoids spotlightFears surround the health of Italy's Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi as the billionaire yesterday again slipped out of the public view despite the country's climate of increasing political turmoil.

Parma FC face ruin as a dynasty crashesAs they stretched their multi-million-pound muscles for a big match against Inter Milan last night, the star-studded Parma football team must have found it hard to keep their minds on the ball.

Italy's PM in Vatican air terror mysteryTerrorists planned to use a hijacked jet for a Christmas Day attack on the Vatican, Silvio Berlusconi, the Italian Prime Minister, was quoted as saying in an interview published yesterday.

'Ambassador, you're really spoiling our party'400 invited guests quietly consuming canapes at a Swedish art gallery could be forgiven their amazement when an ambassador erupted in violent protest at a work of art depicting a suicide bomber.

Behind the mask of Lindh murder suspectA young Serb who was fascinated by knives waits in jail to be charged with the murder of Sweden's Foreign Minister. In this report, we uncover the life of a cold loner who was desperate to find fame by any means.

Refugee faces Nazi war trialIn Lithuania more than 200,000 Jews were murdered - many by their neighbours working with the occupying Nazi forces. Now a 82-year-old man may soon face trial for the killings.

Terror driving EU talks from Dublin - AhernIrish leader Bertie Ahern has acknowledged that his country cannot provide adequate security for visiting European Union heads of state, despite having invited them to Dublin in May.

Europe's grand follyThis weekend's summit was supposed to endorse a bright new EU constitution: instead, Poland and Germany walked out and now everything is on ice, report Gaby Hinsliff in Brussels and Ian Traynor.

Russians fume as Mormons 'buy souls'The Russian Orthodox Church has expressed its outrage at what it claims is a Mormon scheme to buy up the names of dead Russians in order to baptise 'dead souls' in their faith.

Switzerland

Suicide clinic investigated over deathsA group in Switzerland which performs assisted suicides is under investigation for its part in at least three deaths of foreigners, including a British couple.

Economics

The slick man of EuropeWill Hutton: America good, Germany bad - that's the received opinion, but, economically, this view is no longer tenable.

Tony Blair's diplomacy of intoleranceClaims that the outcome in Iraq vindicates the British approach underestimate how much Britain's position in Europe has been damaged, argues Kirsty Hughes.

Can the Transatlantic rift be healed?The World Today Essay: The economic costs of not recreating the western alliance could be enormous - but Europe risks making its case in the wrong way, says William Wallace.